Method and apparatus for extinguishing fires



P 3, 1929- F. c. J. MOORE 1,727,111

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES Filed Dec. 15, 1924 30INVENTOR m a J malt;

BY nd O fg gi W ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES Patented Sept 3, 1929.

1 1,727,111 PATENT OFFICE,

IENNEL C. J'. MOORE, F BETHLEHEM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BETHLEHEMSHIPBUILDING CORPORATION.

METHOD AND APPARATUS ,FOR EXTINGUI SHING FIRES.

, Application filed December 15, 1924. Serial No. 755,868.

My invention relates to means and to a method for fighting fires and ithas for an object to provide apparatus of this character which shalloperate to eflecti vely develop and spread a blanket of non-inflammablematerial over a fire or an inflammable substance.

The principle of generating a heavy noninflammable gas, such as 00,,from suitable.

1 ingredients, one of which carries a viscous medium to hold the gas inbubble form in a blanket of foam is well known in the art. My inventionrelates to a method and to apparatus of this general character and ithas for an object to obtain better mixing of the .outlet with its apicalportion arranged ad-' jacent to the outlet and having its discharge rimfluted radially in order to spread and to secure effective distributionof material passing from the outlet.

These and other objects are accomplished by apparatus made in accordancewith my invention and which, by way of example, is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, forming 'a part of this application and whereinsimilar parts are referred to by similar reference character, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view, partly in section, showing my improved foam-producing:and spreading device;

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan view of the conical deflector. shown in Fig.1; Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views showing variations in curvatureof the radially fluted portions; and,

Fig. 5 shows a modified form of my ininvention.

Referring now ter understanding of my invention, in

to the drawings for a bet- Fig:

1, I show conduits 10 and 11, which lead,

respectively, to sources of chemically react1ve ingredients and whichare arranged to discharge, respectively, into the arms and 13 of thehollow, substantially T- shaped member, at 14:. The arms 12 and 13preferably define upwardly-curved passages 15 and 16 which converge anddischarge into the discharge passage 17 of an arm 18 of the T-shapedmember.

A conoidal deflector, at 20, is arranged with its apical portion 21disposed adjacent to the outlet end of the passage 17 and serves to corea stream discharged from the passage 17 into annular form andtogradually change the direction of flow of the annulus outwardly in orderto effectively spread material discharged from the T-shaped member. Thedeflector, at 20, may be supported in any suitable manner.. For example,in Fig. 1, I show the deflector carried by arms 22 which are connectedto the vertical arm 18 and to lips 23 carried by the-deflector. The arms22 and the lips 23 are secured'together in any suitable manner, asby-the screws 24.

In order that the annular stream of material provided by the apicalportion of the deflector may be effectively and more evenly distributedover"- a given area, I preferably flute the deflector along radiallines, from which it will be apparent that the concavities of theflutings will define a smaller angle with respect to the axis of thedeflector, as indicated in Fig. 3, than will be defined by the convexportions of the flutings, as will be seen from Fig. 4. Referring toFigs. 1

and 2, it will be seen that the fluting starts preferably defined by asurface which curves,

outwardly from its axis and then reversely with respect to the axis soas to impart a downwardly directive eflectupon material discharged fromthe deflector, the outwardly and downwardly curved discharge surfacebeing indicated generally at 27 in the drawings. 2

In Fig. 5, I -show a conical deflector 20 which is suported by a stem 29which extends axially with respect to-the discharge passage 17 andpasses through an opening 30 in the T-shaped member at 14', the stembeing'preferably provided with a shoulder ,31 so that it may be clampedin place with respect to the .T-shaped member by-screwing up the nut 32.

bicarbonate,

In placing the apparatus described in practice, the conduits 1'0 and 11are connected to sources of chemically reactive ingredients such as abase solution, for example, sodium and a salt solution, such forexample, as alum or aluminum sulphate. A viscous material, such as dyewood extract, is mixed with the base solution. When these solutions areadmixed in the vertical passage or mixing chamber 17 chemical reactionensues and carbon dioxide is evolved. The purpose of the viscousmaterial is to form filmy envelopes for the evolved'gas Which shallcoalesce to constitute a froth or foam. The foam mixture discharged fromthe passage 17 is deflected outwardly by the conical deflector, at 20,and the downwardly directed rim 27 of the deflector serves to impart aslight downward directive effect to not divide the material but materialis discharged from the deflector .mixture from the'passage 17.

the foam mixture. The radial flutings constituted by the concave andconvex surface portions 25 and 26, respectively, serve to define varyingdischarge angles for the material leavingthe deflector, thereby makingpossible a more effective distribution of material over a given area.

The upward curvature of the passages 15 and 16 serves to change thedirection of the streams so that when the latter'meet, not only is athorough and prolonged admixture secured, but also the velocity energyof the moving streams is effective to discharge the This permits of thedevelopment of foam and the discharge thereof without the development ofpressure for this. purpose as would benecessarily the case where thestreams impacted in line with no component of velocity in the directionof the discharge passage.

In viewof the fact that the deflector does discharges the stream more orless in the form of a-sheet, the change in direction and the spreadingof the foam takes place with a minimum disruptive effect and astable anddurable foam is secured. "From a consideration of Figs. 1 and 5, it willbe apparent that the streams of ingredients from the passages 15 and 16empty into the discharge passage 17, velocity energy of the ingredientstreams being effective to secure discharge from the passage 17 and thestream which is discharged from the passage 17 is cored out by thedeflector into annular form. This annular stream has its directiongradually changed by the deflector ,and finally it'is slightly reversedin the direction ofthe apical portion of the deflector so that adownward directive effect may be exerted upon the mixtuie leaving thedischarge edge of the deflector rim. By fluting the deflector radially,particularly the discharge rim portion thereof, the sheet of withvaryingleaving or exit angles so that her which gradually curve the foam may bemore effectively distributed over a zone to be covered.

.Having thus described the inventlon what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In. a fire extinguisher, a deflector with its fluid engaging portioncurving gradually upwardly-and radially outward, and having a regularlyundulating surface peripherally thereof.

merging gradually into the unfluted surface' 3. A process for preparinga fire extin guishing spray, comprising the step ofblending into acommon stream two oppositely d1- re'cted streams of foam producingsolutions, while gradually changing the direction of flow of said twostreams at their juncture to. that of the common stream.

.4. A process for preparing a fire extinguishing spray, comprising-thestep of blend- -1ng into a common stream convergent streams of foamproducing solutions whose paths of approach are along widely d1vergmglines from their point of intersection while gradually'changing thedirection of flow of said convergent streams at their juncture to thatof the common stream.

.5. A process for preparing a fire ext1n-- guishing spray, comprisingthe steps of blending into a common stream convergent streams of foamforming solutions while gradually changing the direction of flow of saidconvergent streams at their juncture to that of the common stream andthen deflect- "ing the resulting stream of the mixture graduallyupwardly and outwardly and then somewhat downwardly to produce a hollow,somewhat conically shaped spray.

6. A process of preparing a fire extinguishing spray, comprising thesteps of gradually blending streams of foam form- "ing solution into acommon stream and then gradually deflecting the said common streamgradually upwardly and outwardly to form a spray. I I 7. In a fireextinguisher, a mixing chamber including a dischargepassageway, aplurality of inlet passages to said mixing cham-.

toward the discharge passageway within the mixing chamber and mergetherein, and an inverted sageway curving deflecting surface.

' In testimony'whereof I hereunto affix-my signature this 11th day ofDecember 1924.

FENNEL o. J. MOORE;

